Thank you for your support and taking the time to comment. I wasn’t aware that a link to my article had been posted on the Cruzbike Blog. ComfyBike is very much a part-time labor of love project for me so I don’t always have the time to keep up. The series of articles I posted is an ongoing manifesto about the recumbent bike and the bicycle industry. That series is very much “to be continued” and I have more in the works.

I posted in the Cruzbike forum years ago. I’m a big fan of Cruzbike and what they’ve accomplished. Their bikes are beautiful and my engineering mind appreciates how they have distilled the front wheel moving bottom bracket design to it’s essence. One day I may be able to afford one.

My first public voicing of my views on the recumbent industry and the introduction of the first Cruzbike came pretty much at the same time. I think the Cruzbike is a product that could make the leap into the mainstream if they get the marketing right. There’s a place for mid-4 figure priced recumbent bikes but we need to grow the potential customer base that will eventually be interested in buying such a machine. In order to do that we must expose new people to recumbent cycling, not just attempt to seduce roadies onto a new mount. In order to do that we have to take care of them. We need to take these riders by the hand and bring them along.

Your idea of teaching kids is fantastic. Please do it. I am in the process of developing a standard method of how to teach someone to ride a recumbent. My hope is that people will use it to do just what you propose and get kids and people of all ages out riding a recumbent.

I know recumbents are expensive, but if I’ve learned anything from the bike hacking community I know they don’t have to be. If you need any inspiration of how to get a few bikes together for your class, sign into the Atomic Zombie forums and post a message for some ideas. I think you’ll find a lot of support. If I can be of any assistance, please let me know.

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. You make valid points about mass marketing and economies of scale. I also agree that that the recumbent industry needs a “break-out” moment. Where we differ is in Who is responsible to make that moment and the consequences of the recumbent industry not having that moment.

The conventional thinking regarding bicycle marketing has not worked for the recumbent. We have 40 plus years of recumbent builders going through the same steps without a significant market breakthrough. It’s not the economics of recumbents that has kept these machines a rarely seen curiosity, it’s the approach that has been taken.

I am of the opinion that the industry will die if it doesn’t grow. It certainly won’t grow if the same failed marketing methods are applied. As much as I like racing, I’m not for begging the UCI for anything, nor would I tie the future of the recumbent on any race sanctioning body or racing in general. If the recumbent is to survive it will be due a completely different group of people – casual/recreational riders who would normally choose a comfort bike. For the most part this group does not know the recumbent exists, yet they are a perfect target audience for recumbent cycling.

What I’m calling for is action by avid recumbent cyclists to become ambassadors and bring new people into the fold. Sanctioning bodies are not required. Government agencies are not required. Turn that race event into a test drive/teach new people to ride a recumbent event. Let them see for themselves how riding a recumbent can enhance the experience of seeing the world on a cycle. Then we’ll see where the sales number go.

]]>Comment on Why Speed Records Won’t Save The Recumbent Bike by Jonhttp://comfybike.com/2016/02/24/why-speed-records-wont-save-the-recumbent-bike/#comment-6792
Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:37:29 +0000http://comfybike.com/?p=579#comment-6792I agree that the normal roadie won’t necessarily be swayed by this any more than a Strava KOM on a TdF stage. However, the segment they’re targeting does have an economic point, and that is margin. High end racers are bought by people who want and can afford quality. Quality costs the producer, but with relatively small sales a business can be maintained. Compare with the slightly lower segment, where one finds distinctly average road bikes and entry level tourers, e.g. the Raleigh Royal at about 500GBP. This needs a mass market approach and economies of scale as the market here is mature and price points subject to savage undercutting. Margin is small and for twice the sales you make half the money. Marketing for those sales also needs to be more aggressive to find a place, so it doesn’t expand into the mainstream.

I don’t think the recumbent industry needs saving per se, but they do need a break-out moment, and that is largely in the hands of the UCI, in my view. Even a very expensive publicity stunt won’t cut it. And the wider cycle lobby (Sustrans is one in the UK) still don’t really get it either.

It’s expensive to buy a new bike, so not everyone will ever switch, or can afford to, or should do. The help we need is at least parity in public events, and maybe our own categories in actual races. Lots of events in the UK ban recumbents as “unsafe”, which is demonstrably not so, but it’s the governing body that needs to set the trend.

I am a Cruzbiker in Germany, and I saw your post on the Cruzbike Blog.
Then I read your “how-to-save-the-recumbent” articles with increasing eye size!http://comfybike.com/2015/03/08/the-rebirth-of-the-recumbent-bike-part-1/
One year ago you did a great job throwing light on the recumbent’s inexplainable lack of success.
By the way, I also thought some years ago that an affordable kid’s recumbent is needed.
I also thought about teaching recumbent riding to groups – but for kids.
Your idea to set up a recumbent following the average targeted user’s need was stunning, too.
What is the status of your ideas currently? Did you try to post in the Cruzbike Community Forum?
As of now, I can only support your ideas.
Althought the world seems to become ever rougher, riding a recumbent really has enhanced my life, like you describe it.
We need to tell a good story about it. You are right: facts’n’figures won’t!